Overview

Just north of Basin and Range National Monument, the Wayne E. Kirch Nevada State Wildlife Management Area (WMA) has a developed campground that is intended for fishermen and duck hunters using the WMA, but it is available to all campers.

Dave Deacon Campground, also called Hot Creek Campground, is free. The campground has gravel campsites big enough for large RVs, drinking water, picnic tables, fire rings, a few shade trees, vault toilets, and a dump station. The camping limit is 8 days. Pack it in - Pack it out.

Except for the cottonwood trees, the area is flat and open, providing grand views across the middle-Nevada landscape to mountain ranges in the distance.

Continuing south on the campground access road leads directly into the north end of Basin and Range National Monument.

Link to map.

Getting to Camp

Dave Deacon Campground is located near Lund, Nevada, on the northeast edge of Basin and Range National Monument, about 2-3/4 hours (182 miles) northeast of Las Vegas.

From Las Vegas, drive north on Interstate-15 for 21 miles to Highway 93. Drive north on Highway 93 past the towns of Alamo and Ash Springs to Highway 318. Turn left onto Highway 318 and drive north for 67 miles to Dave Deacon Road on the left (watch for Sunnyside and Kirch WMA signs).

Turn left onto Dave Deacon Road and drive west. At 0.2 miles out, stay right at a fork. At 2.4 miles out, stay right at a signed intersection towards Dave Deacon Campground (sign says 5 more miles; left is Wildlife Road).

At 7.0 miles out, stay left towards the campground which can be seen ahead in the near distance. At 7.3 miles out, turn left into the campground.